Blue Catfish on the Mississippi River w/Jason Jackson of Two Rivers Guide Service – Alton, Illinois

This is tough fishing. As fishermen, part of the allure – the story behind the fish – is how we interact with the environment. Were we wading? In a boat? Lake, river, stream…? By all measures fishing on the Mississippi River near the Melvin Price Locks & Dam is challenging and tells a story all to itself – beyond just what you may catch on a particular day. The dam tailwaters can be rough, the current strong, the water muddy…and the blue catfish huge.

Jason Jackson (www.tworiversguideservice.com) makes the fishing here look easy. The expertise he has isn’t just enviable, it’s a necessity in this potentially dangerous environment. Not just to catch fish but to actually survive these waters unscathed. This isn’t lazy, comfortable drift boat fishing but challenging, active, always on the alert fishing.

Jason Jackson (www.tworiversguideservice.com) makes the fishing here look easy. The expertise he has isn’t just enviable, it’s a necessity in this potentially dangerous environment. Not just to catch fish but to actually survive these waters unscathed. This isn’t lazy, comfortable drift boat fishing but challenging, active, always on the alert fishing.

Remember the blue cats here need to survive in this environment – fat, muscle bound, chest beating gorillas – exposed constantly to the rusty water, persistent barge traffic and merciless current. Yeah you might think I’m crazy but wait until Jason gets you into a 58+ pound fish and you’re reeling it in the current weighed down by the 16-24 oz weight you need sometimes just to keep your skipjack on the bottom…then come back to me.

Here at The Local Fisherman, like you, we enjoy and appreciate the total adventure. Not just the pursuit itself but how we effectively adjust, evolve and interact with our environment in that pursuit. Even in this environment, you get to see some gems – like the bald eagle we saw on our way out. Whether it be fly fishing remotely in a Colorado river, setting the hook on a big musky in Canada or taking some pain reliever for sore arms after a day of blue cat fishing – it’s what we live for. Stay tuned.

Here at The Local Fisherman, like you, we enjoy and appreciate the total adventure. Not just the pursuit itself but how we effectively adjust, evolve and interact with our environment in that pursuit. Even in this environment, you get to see some gems – like the bald eagle we saw on our way out. Whether it be fly fishing remotely in a Colorado river, setting the hook on a big musky in Canada or taking some pain reliever for sore arms after a day of blue cat fishing – it’s what we live for. Stay tuned.